Manchester

I will be in Manchester for my birthday (dont ask the last 3 years l spent my birthday in Asia this year Manchester - go figure!) lm enroute to spending the weekend with my friend in the Lake District! BUT what l want to know about Machester (City Centre) can anyone recommend some really nice restaurants and bars? It will be a Thursday evening lm flying in about 4pm so dinner will be around 8pm l think and cos its my birthday l do want to get all dressed up! Also lm not paying so it can be as expensive as l like!!!!!!!!!!! We do prefer asian food esp Thai!

himanchester has loads of nice restaurants and bars. Chinatown has some excellent restuarants but if you like Thai i would recommend Chaophraya http://www.chaophraya.co.uk/contact.html.wagamama (one on deansgate and one in the printworks) does really tasty asian food.

If you fancy a nice italian try Felicini on Oxford road or San Carlo on King st west off deansgate - both are really great with good atmospheres. Stock is also a nice italian and a bit more upmarket I think.

Dimitris, off deansgate, does great greek food.

my favourite restaurant in manchester is a spanish one called El Rincon which (again) is off deansgate. it has a fantastic atmosphere but you must book in advance because it is so popular.

lounge 10 is pretty upmarket and is supposed to do good food but i haven't eaten there, as is the Living room which is also a nice place to have a drink.

my favourite area for drinking is the norther quarter which is a really up and coming area, there are several bars within a few metres of each other here. Deansgate locks, across the city, has a row of bars which are more dressy than the northern quarter. the printworks has loads of bars and clubs.